Trump Restarts War Powers Clock With New Iran Campaign

President Donald Trump formally notified Congress that the United States has resumed military operations against Iran, restarting the War Powers Act clock after a months-long ceasefire collapsed.

In a July 10 letter dated obtained by CBS News, Trump said military operations resumed on July 7 following Iranian attacks on neutral commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which the administration said violated a memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries last month.

The notification, required under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, gives the administration another 60 days to continue military operations without additional congressional authorization. Under the law, the president may extend that period by an additional 30 days before congressional approval is required.

“As previously communicated to the Congress, I ordered a two-week ceasefire on April 7, 2026. The ceasefire was then extended,” Trump wrote. “Despite this commitment, Iran again attacked several neutral-flagged commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz between July 6-7, 2026.” Trump argued that Tehran’s attacks effectively ended the ceasefire and reset the statutory timeline governing military operations.

According to the letter, U.S. forces responded with strikes targeting Iranian missile launch sites, air defense systems, military maritime assets, command and control facilities, and other military infrastructure. “United States ground forces are not involved in these strikes,” Trump wrote. “These strikes are limited, measured, planned and executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties.”

The president said the military campaign is intended to protect American forces in the region, secure commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, defend U.S. allies, and degrade Iran’s ability to threaten American interests.

The notification comes as the administration has significantly escalated pressure on Tehran. U.S. Central Command has carried out three consecutive nights of strikes against Iranian targets, while Trump announced Monday that the United States would reimpose a naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz and require commercial vessels to pay transit fees for U.S. security operations.

The new notification also complicates congressional efforts to limit Trump’s authority to continue military operations against Iran. Both the House and Senate approved resolutions last month seeking to restrict further hostilities without explicit authorization from Congress, though the measures carried limited legal force and would almost certainly face a presidential veto if enacted through binding legislation.

The administration has maintained that the previous War Powers clock ended when the ceasefire took effect in April. Critics on Capitol Hill disputed that interpretation, arguing the United States maintained military operations throughout the truce and that the statutory deadline never actually stopped.

Trump rejected that argument, writing that the renewed strikes constitute a separate military action following Iran’s violation of the ceasefire agreement. “I directed this military action consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests, both at home and abroad, and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests,” Trump wrote.

The letter concludes by stating that U.S. forces “remain postured to take further action, as necessary and appropriate,” to respond to additional Iranian attacks and eliminate threats to the United States and its allies.